1777.

July 1.

From Crown Point, the royal army advan- CHAP. V. çed on both sides the lake, keeping up a communication between the two divisions, by June 30. means of their naval force, which preserved its station in the centre. On the first appearance of the van, which threw up works for its defence, general St. Clair seemed confirmed in the opinion he had before entertained, that the assailing army was inconsiderable; and he was sanguine in his hope that he should find no great difficulty in repelling it. The next day, the enemy appeared in greater force, and encamped on both sides the lake, within four miles of Ticonderoga. A strong party was pushed forward to Three-Mile-Point, and the fleet anchored just out of reach of the guns of the fort.

In the morning of the second of July, an attempt was made by general St. Clair to secure some cattle and stores at the landing place for batteaux coming from lake George; but the party detached on this service, not having executed it with the requisite dispatch, the day appeared, and the stores were ordered back to fort George. A detachment was at the same time sent to re-enforce the party at the landing, who were directed to destroy the batteaux which could not be sent back to the fort; and after evacuating and burning the works, blockhouses, and mills, in that quarter, to retire to Ticonderoga. This was effected after a slight

CHAP. V. skirmish in which a few men were killed; after 1777. which the enemy, without opposition, took

July.

possession of the important post at mount Hope, which, in part commanded the lines on the northern side, and entirely cut off the communication with lake George.

The weakness of his garrison was the motive which induced general St. Clair to give up this fort without a struggle. He apprehended that it would be impracticable to support it without such a re-enforcement as would hazard a general action in the open field, and supposed it to be most advisable to concentre his force about Ticonderoga and mount Independence.

After taking possession of mount Hope, the British line, composed of the division on the western side of Champlain, was extended from the mountain quite to the lake, so as completely to enclose the garrison on that side. The German division under major general Reidisal, which occupied the eastern shore of the lake, was encamped at Three-Mile-Point, and had pushed forward a detachment near the rivulet which runs east of mount Independence.

The enemy now laboured assiduously in bringing up their artillery, and completing their communications. Sugar-hill too was examined, and the report being that the ascent, although extremely difficult, was practicable, and that the top might be levelled so as to admit cannon, the work was immeditely commenced, and

pressed on with so much vigour, that the battery might have been opened the next day. Those operations received no check from the garrison: most probably, it was not in a condition to give any.

The situation of St. Clair was now at its crisis. On the western side of the lake, the fort was completely invested; and mount Hope, now in possession of the enemy, entirely commanded the inlet through which the waters of lake George communicate with those of Champlain. By taking possession of Sugar hill, the ground between lake George, and South river, was acquired by the enemy; and general Reidisel's camp on the eastern side, extending from the lake to the Eastern run, it only remained to occupy the ground between the Eastern run and the South river, a distance not exceeding three quarters of a mile, to render the investment complete. This, general St. Clair was informed, would be effected the next day.

In this state of things, Ticonderoga and mount Independence must either be immediately evacuated, or maintained at the hazard of losing the garrisons when they should be no longer tenable.

Between these cruel alternatives general St. Clair did not hesitate to choose the former; but, supposing it prudent to take the advice of a council of war, the general officers and colonel

CHAP. V.

1777.

CHAP. V. Long who commanded a brigade, were con1777. vened, and they unanimously advised the immediate evacuation of the fort."

Evacuation of Ticonderoga and

Mount Inde

pendence.

July 5.

Preparations for the retreat were instantly commenced, the invalids, the hospital, and such stores as could be moved in the course of the night were put on board a number of batteaux, and proceeded under the guard of colonel Long with his regiment, and some drafts from other corps, up the South river to Skeensborough. The main body of the army, having entirely passed over to mount Independence, directed its march by land through Castletown to the same place.

In the hope that the army might make considerable progress before its retreat should be discovered, orders had been given to march out with the most profound silence, and particularly to set nothing on fire. These judicious orders were unfortunately disobeyed, and before the rear guard was in motion, the house which had been occupied by general de Fermoy was perceived to be in flames. This served as a signal to the enemy, who immediately entered the works and fired, but without effect, on the rear of the retreating army.

A rapid pursuit by land was made without loss of time by the generals Frazer and Reidisel; while general Burgoyne determined to

2 Remem.

follow in person the detachment under colonel CHAP. V. Long, which had retreated up the South river towards Skeensborough.

The bridge, the boom, and those other works, the construction of which had employed the labour of ten months, were cut through so as by nine o'clock to afford a passage for the Royal George and Inflexible frigates, as well as for the gun boats; and, about three in the afternoon, the foremost brigade of gun boats engaged the American gallies near the falls of Skeensborough.

1777.

July 6.

can army

with evacuate

In the mean-time, three regiments had dis- The Ameriembarked at some distance from the fort, the intention of attacking it by land, and

cut

ting off the retreat of the garrison, as well as that of the detachment in the boats and galleys. This manœuvre being discovered, the works and batteaux were set on fire, and the troops retired without any considerable loss of men to fort Anne. On this occasion all the baggage of the army, and a great quantity of provisions and military stores, were either destroyed by the Americans, or taken by the enemy.

Knowing the inferiority of his numbers, and that he could only hope to save his army by the rapidity of his march, general St. Clair reached Castletown, thirty miles from Ticonderoga, on the night succeeding the evacuation of the fort. The rear guard under colonel Warner, halted six miles short of that place.

Skeensbo

rough, and

retire to fort Anne.